We had a cold front whoosh through yesterday bringing the snow level down to about 4500 feet. Although flurries were predicted to the valley floor, it remained rain, even at my house 100 feet above the valley floor.
But, today, as Bear and I ventured out and back, mid-afternoon, the snow was low on the mountains.
And from my usual vantage point, turning 180 degrees: big sky, green grass and pasture…
And Bear was there…on the Road Home.
FRIDAY!! – a week of long days of work, working and playing with Bear and Bob and avoiding yard work…the grass is nearing the 1 foot level :(
My sweet tooth is not large and I’m not much for cake but every once in awhile a piece of cake sounds good. And then I saw this sweet recipe: Texas chocolate sheet cake for two. Perfect! Even though I am one, cake for 2 is a better size than a cake that serves a crowd.
For my international readers, don’t despair – I didn’t know what “Texas” sheet cake was until I googled it and even the google results were mixed as usual. However, the majority of entries agreed that it is a rich chocolate sheet cake topped with a chocolate-pecan “frosting” when the cake is warm so that the frosting is kind of absorbed into the cake.
The frosting part was too much sweet and too much chocolate for me, but the tiny cakes – right up my alley!
The recipe mixes up and is in the ramekins in about 10 minutes. 30 minutes to bake, another 10-15 to cool and there is cake. I did fancy up one of them with some frosting, coconut and dried sweet cherries…
Oh, boy! Let me eat cake!
No, not together.
Still separate.
But progress is being made. Bear and I “visit” Bob. This hissing is less. The barking is less. Bear is slightly less bouncy.
Bob and Bear….someday :)!
Still hazy today (Sunday) with the clouds bringing the humidity up to a whopping 47%…
But this scene – the fresh field, the barn, the snow covered mountains: this is Montana.
After a week of days that seemed extra dry – humidity-wise as well as precipitation-wise – this morning dawned a bit gray and damp. No rain, but it felt like it could rain.
I joined Bob outside to peruse the grass and grounds.
…and to check on the rhubarb!
Soon!
Detent is riding the slow boat…
Hopefully, accord will be reached….Soon!
After looking at the rhubarb, I went to check on the lilacs…
Soon!
I had not been to Wayfarer’s Park without Karl. I wanted to go as the wildflowers on the path are 1-2 weeks ahead of my woods. But it was the one place that I hadn’t been able to go alone.
Today, I had some errands in Bigfork and decided that I would at least drive through with Bear and if he seemed interested we’d go for a short walk by the lake.
He was interested :)!
I let him pick where he wanted to go, curious to see what interested him and particularly if he’d want to go in the water.
He didn’t go right to the water, but after exploring the shore paths, he walked right in.
He drank a bit, walked along the edge, had another drink and we puttered around on the rocky beach…lots of good smells. A woman with her 2 young granddaughters were exploring and Bear happily dispensed kisses all around and stood quietly for the girls to pet him.
I had a few tough moments, but mostly it was a joyful time of seeing Bear enjoy a place that Karl and I so enjoyed.